The wait is over for Seat’s third and largest SUV to
date, the Tarraco. Sharing the MQB architecture with the Skoda Kodiaq and many
other VW Group models, the Tarraco looks very familiar.
The front carries Seat’s styling cues, but the side
reminds a lot of the VW Tiguan Allspace and the rear has a Skoda Kodiaq vibe to
it. Interestingly, Seat says the Tarraco shows the brand’s new design direction
for the coming years but we suspect that has to do mostly with the new grille
and full-LED lights all-around.
Named after the Mediterranean city of Tarragona, the
Tarraco slots above the Arona and Ateca in Seat’s range and follows a tried and
proven recipe. As with the VW Tiguan Allspace and Skoda Kodiaq, it’s
underpinned by the MQB-A long-wheelbase architecture which provides the base
for “huge interior space.” No practicality numbers are available yet, but we do
know the SUV is 4,735-mm long and 1,658-mm high.
The engine lineup is familiar as well and includes
two gasoline and two diesel units, all featuring turbocharging, direct
injection and start-stop technology. The entry-level petrol engine is a
1.5-liter TSI rated at 150 PS and linked to a six-speed manual
transmission and front-wheel drive. A 2.0-liter TSI that makes 190 PS is also available in combination with a seven-speed DSG gearbox and 4Drive AWD
system.
The diesel lineup includes two 2.0-liter TDI units
with 150 PS and 190 PS, respectively. The lower-powered engine can be had
either in front-wheel drive, six-speed manual transmission configuration or in
all-wheel drive, seven-speed DSG guise. The 190 PS engine only comes with the
DSG transmission and 4Drive system. Later on, Seat says it will introduce
alternative powertrain technologies as well on the Tarraco.
The VW Group underpinnings are visible in the cabin
as well, with the exception of the touchscreen display which isn’t integrated
into the dashboard like the interfaces of its platform siblings. Instead, the
Tarraco gets a “floating” display up to 8 inches in diameter that supports
gesture controls in its top-spec Navigation Plus version. Elsewhere, the
10.25-inch Digital Cockpit is also available.
Notable tech onboard includes the Dynamic Chassis
Control (DCC) adaptive damping system, as well as an array of driving
assistance systems. Lane Assist and Front Assist including bicycle and
pedestrian detection are standard in Europe, while Blind Spot Detection,
Traffic Sign Recognition, Traffic Jam Assist, Adaptive Cruise Control, Light
Assist, and Emergency Assist are optional.
The Seat Tarraco will go on sale in early 2019 in
two trim levels, SE and Xcellence. For customers who can’t wait until then,
pre-sales start in December. Interestingly, it will be made in Germany, at the
Wolfsburg plant.
